Friday, May 31, 2013

Searching for Sugar Daddy

I should update my blog more often. People like Dr. Sam Tsang encouraged me to update my blog. So here I am.

For the past few years, I've been quite busy switching my opinion on another medium, i.e. facebook. Facebook has pros and cons. On the good side, it's quick and I can type Chinese fast. But on the other hand, it's a very public forum and people can criticize you right away within seconds.

I'm not the type of people who are afraid of being criticized. In fact, when I post something controversial, I expect to be criticized, but I often have reasons to defend myself, and often my opponents fail within 1 to 2 attempts. The point is, even though facebook is a very thought-provoking medium, one still needs to use a lot of time and effort to respond to the meatheads leaving you comments on your own thread on your own timeline on your own wall. And THAT takes time.

Maybe that's why I haven't had time to write something remotely coherent for a year or two.

Now that I get my romantic chills back, I have decided to lay low on facebook for awhile and instead choose to use this old-fashioned platform to let out some of my opinionated thoughts. This is for the elite, for those who aren't afraid to read long-windedness in English, and for those who welcome challenging thoughts.

So my heart goes to Rodriguez!!! I stumbled upon this wonderful documentary film called "Searching for Sugar Man" all of a sudden. I vaguely heard that it was the Oscar winner for Best Documentary this year and it was about a musician that was underrated and had been in the recluse for awhile. So that's my kind of movies.

And wow! Not only was I pleasantly surprised, but I also burst into tears at least 3 to 4 times during the movie. I was amazed by the filmmakers' and the music historians' persistence to find this Rodriguez guy, after so many years of not being in the limelight. Rodriguez was a musician/poet/sing-songwriter not unlike the style of Bob Dylan who released 2 albums in the early 70's to little success. His albums didn't sell well in America. Sussex Records dropped him off the label. He went on drifting on the streets and occasionally doing some demolition and renovation work in Detroit - well, the typical anti-American dream story!

The guy has disappeared for almost 30 to 40 years.

Who would have thought that his albums were actually a hit in South Africa, selling more than half a million copies, which indirectly influenced to entire anti-apartheid movement in the 80's, thereby overthrowing the then authoritarian South African dictatorship. Who would have thought? So in South Africa, almost no one has not heard of Rodriguez, and he became the hero of political activism. But the key is, Rodriguez knew nothing about his success in South Africa, until the filmmakers and the historians gave him the good news some 40 years later.

Rodriguez's overnight success may seem like a Cinderella story, but what has that got to do with me?

Well, first, Rodriguez didn't want recognition. At least that is not the most important thing to him. His fame came late and was long overdue, but it came. So that gives me hope.

I've been working hard on music for the past 5 to 6 years. I'm sometimes being trapped by the phenomenon known as "recognition." Of course, no one dislikes being recognized. But sometimes, the lack of recognition hinders my drive to create better music.

What I get out of the movie is that Rodriguez does not need recognition (albeit he appreciates it), but he is just grateful that he is still making music and that he is doing what he loves to do.

That gives me inspiration!

My life's goal is to search for people like Rodriguez, people who are geniuses but are forgotten by most. I've managed to have done that with my last album "The Chung Brothers Sing the Gospel Songbook of Benjamin Ng." I will continue to do that with our new album, and that's going to shock!

But most of all, my life's goal is also to search for the sugar man within myself. To search for the innocence that is within me that attracted me to music in the first place. And the search for a greater humanity!

Thank you Rodriguez for helping me find the Sugar Man within myself.

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Reaffirmed jazz aficionado

After my much needed relaxing trip to Taipei, I have re-affirmed myself as a jazz aficionado, an identity I seem to have lost in the past 3 to 4 years, largely due to the fact there aren't many world-class jazz musicians traveling to HK on a regular basis, unlike the jazz capitol of Asia, Tokyo. But that's not entirely true. I did have the privilege to witness the great Roy Hargrove, Hendrik Meurkens, Dr. John, David Sanborn, Joey DeFrancesco, Dianne Reeves, Joshua Redman, Renee Rosnes live in action.

But I miss the intimate jazz club atmosphere of Blue Note, Village Vanguard, and Iridium in New York City, or some of the other great jazz holes-in-the-wall in Washington D.C., e.g. the recently closed U-Topia. It's not the same listening to jazz in the Culture Centre where the audience is very polite and shy rendering the musicians play too polite and shy. That's not to say the musicians don't reveal their true colors. In a setting like the very nurtured and cultured HK auditorium or hall, musicians tend to be as meticulous and careful and courteous, as they do not want to offend the seemingly classical-trained audience. But jazz concerts should be unlike classical concerts. The chemistry between the musicians should spark the interactions between the musicians and the audience. That big part of it is missing in HK. Even in a small jazz setting like Peel Fresco in HK, sometimes I get thrilled by some exceptional fine playing from some musicians, but mostly the performance is formulaic, uninspired and square. This is, of course, not the musicians' fault. It's more like the audience do not know how to appreciate jazz in a small setting.

Needless to say, jazz education in HK is lackluster. The people playing jazz on radio are few and far between. There are very few CD stores that sell serious jazz music. Even HMV's jazz selection has deterioriated tremendously over the years. There's only one jazz program (Jazzing Up on RTHK4) once a week, lasting for one hour. How can you nurture a well-groomed jazz audience with just one hour per week? What songs should you choose? Which artists should be focused?

On that basis, Taiwan is better than HK by several miles. At least they have jazz-oriented cafes. They ahve some locally-produced jazz albums. Their appreciation of jazz is more sophisticated, evidenced by the fact they clap at the right places after solos. After reading some well-written articles by Haruki Murakami (村上春樹), I feel like I am not alone in the jazz listening world.



I will explain/discuss more on the book a later time. But this book reminds me how to listen to jazz. How to appreciate jazz. How to appreciate our surroundings. How to appreciate life. After all, jazz is just that symbolic thing that remind us what life is to me. Jazz is just an intergral part of me.

Without jazz, the air that I breathe is not exactly oxygen!

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Monday, November 21, 2011

鍾氏兄弟 X 劉卓威 THE FUSION 音樂會



香港首個古典X爵士X流行X福音 fusion音樂盛會
音樂達人遇上結他才子 傾力打造完美樂章
日期、時間:
17/12/2011 (星期六) 7:30 pm
18/12/2011 (星期日) 7:30 pm

最強嘉賓陣容:
樂壇天后 謝安琪 (星期六)
二胡大師 霍世潔 (星期日)
古典鋼琴大師 羅乃新

Billy Chan (Keyboards)
Jezrael Lucero (Piano)
Charles Huntley (Sax)
Paul Panichi (Trumpet)
Barry Chung (Guitar)
Tsang Tak Hong (Bass)
Robbin Harris (Drums)

地點: 香港理工大學 賽馬會綜藝館
門券:$280/ $180(*$120)/ $130 (*$80)
(*優惠票:全日制學生、60歲或以上長者及傷疾人士)
<快達票購票> 11月5日公開發售!
熱線:31288288
網上:http://www.hkticketing.com/Ticketek/event/nswcms_event.asp?id=5262

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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

點評《2011 CASH金帆音樂獎之最佳歌曲、最佳旋律》by King Yi

點評《2011 CASH金帆音樂獎之最佳歌曲、最佳旋律》

眾人矚目音樂界盛事之「2011 CASH金帆音樂獎頒獎典禮」於本月十八日隆重舉行,個人偏愛最佳歌曲與最佳旋律兩大獎項,前者我會揀《六月飛霜》,後者選《朋友愛》。

當今樂壇,陳奕迅是一枝獨秀,他是唐代詩仙李白,往往在歌曲中表達他的豪情邁意,感情一蹴而就,不震撼你的心靈,誓不罷休,古馳+舒文+林夕+陳奕迅的鑽石陣容,《六月飛霜》,Sure Win!

最佳旋律的競逐,戰況頗為激烈,七組入選名單中,你會細心發現差不多佔一半是基督徒,包括:馮穎琪、王菀之、吳秉堅、鍾一諾,一向是評審團寵愛有加的王菀之是長勝將軍,2000年(21歲)參加「12屆CASH流行曲創作大賽」,憑《是一個誤會沒甚麼可悲》奪魁,06年拿最佳旋律(《手望》)、最佳合唱演繹獎(《手望》(手望版)),雙喜臨門,09年以《月亮說》獲最佳旋律,她的殺手鐧是柔情似水的旋律和天使的聲音。不過,今次以《末日》迎戰,勝算不大,此曲予人張愛玲脫掉心愛的旗袍,換上隆重的晚禮服,穿梭於舞會,華麗的背後,燈火熄滅了,不留一點痕跡,實在我聽了一遍後,五分鐘已經忘了旋律。

另一參選者 Christopher Chak(澤日生),他的成名作是陳奕迅的《富士山下》,亦憑這首曲取得07年CASH最佳旋律,可是澤生近年的作曲水準呈停滯不前,《鍾無艷》、《不吐不快》、《年度之歌》、《披星戴月》、《搜神記》已無新鮮感、變化可言,這次以《你們的幸福》出戰,比《富》遜色,福將謝安琪三度摘下CASH最佳女歌手演繹奬(流行音樂),包括:《亡命之途》(06年)、《17度》(08年)、《年度之歌》(09年),這首歌發揮天后本色,唱功展現起死回生,再配合林夕超水準的歌詞,以「幸福」為題讓港人反省自己是否活於幸福中,扳回不少分數,不過這是我第三選擇吧!

不得不說頡臣創作的《那誰》,為何會入選?此曲屬大牌檔式低俗K歌,白白浪費了蘇永康的歌唱實力,也糟蹋了MV男主角梁祖堯的戮力演出。

我欣賞的唱作人馮穎琪,擅寫港女心態,細膩中見主張,她跟麥浚龍已合作多次,《雌雄銅體》的超脫,堪稱「型格」之作,這首曲膺05年CASH最佳另類歌曲,今番以《彳亍》(音斥速,解作緩緩漫步)突擊,惜Juno的人生閱歷尚淺,唱不出曲中的況味,然而值得一讚,編曲的Jerold於 Intro用了雙軌疊聲,營造一絲神秘莫測的氛圍,引領聽眾的無限暇想。

方大同的音樂是自成一格,是本地難得的音樂奇才,他的父親是職業鼓手,母親是名填詞人茹嵐,自小培養他的音樂素質,他堅持以熟悉的國語歌,自創的R&B與靈魂樂面對觀眾,他跟王菀之、謝安琪同年出道,但論音樂創作生涯,他會是「玩」得最耐的一位創作人,不信?時間可以證明一切!三年沒有出碟的他,《好不容易》包辦曲、詞、編曲、唱,這首屬清新的小品作品,我嫌曲式清淡,不及他08年拿CASH最佳歌曲大獎《Love Song》予人意外驚喜。

《天梯》是一首令我催淚的深摯情歌,是根據四十多年前真人真事在重慶的劉國江與徐朝清夫婦的愛情天梯故事,男主角比女主角年輕十載,他無懼世人嘲諷,毅然用五十多年親自建成六千多呎的愛情梯級,引證他愛如深海,在歌曲背後的真正意義,是何其偉大!C All Star的釗峰演繹作曲人賴映彤這首作品,他的誠懇、不造作、不煽情的唱法,令我動容,尤以歌詞「幾多對持續愛到幾多歲當生命仍能為你豁出去……」,我淒然淚下!此曲在Youtube點擊已逾340萬次,相當厲害!賴映彤是位男仔頭的年青女子,她寫歌的企圖心,昭然若揭,曲式緊緻細密,亦見乾淨俐落,聽者隨着節奏揪動心窩,賴氏非常有才!

最後,提到《朋友愛》,作曲人吳秉堅、鍾一諾,絕對是CASH的首兩位貴客,吳秉堅是粵語詩歌先鋒人物,在香港教會無人不曉他的大名,德高望重,鍾一諾是80後菁英,音樂實力屬優質股,以雙劍合璧的超班實力,肯定是強過現今專寫K歌的香港創作人,這首曲亦肩負了神聖的任務,喚醒我們對朋友和愛的真誠態度,言簡意賅,終日聽情情塌塌,轉一轉口味,是嚼一顆清新的薄荷糖,齒甲流香。此曲式是渾然天成的澎湃之作,再配襯振奮人心的弦樂,要擁有一定的創作功力才能成就這首「偉大作品」。鍾一諾的歌聲是英俊的天使頌唱,他的高音是雄渾有致,聽落愜意,一首成功的歌曲,必須包括:琅琅上口、歌詞易記(同行有你,沿途有你,即使要別離)、主題有否意義、唱者功力是否非凡、編曲是否精煉……,《朋友愛》完全具備上述條件,我買它贏!

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Thursday, October 27, 2011

鍾氏兄弟新專輯接力主打歌《朋友 • 愛》預告片 Trailer



鍾氏兄弟新專輯【齊唱 • 吳秉堅之歌】接力主打歌《朋友 • 愛》預告片 Trailer

「朋友乃時常親愛, 弟兄為患難而生。」箴言17:17

《朋友 • 愛》
作曲:吳秉堅/鍾一諾
填詞:鍾一匡/鍾一諾
編曲:褚鎮東/Jezrael Lucero
監製:鍾氏兄弟
主唱:鍾一諾

榮獲2011年CASH金帆音樂獎提名
CASH最佳歌曲大獎
最佳旋律
最佳歌詞
最佳男歌手演繹 (鍾一諾)

請廣傳!

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Monday, October 17, 2011

鍾氏兄弟《齊唱‧吳秉堅之歌》榮登华语音乐传媒大奖秋季十佳唱片

恭喜!鍾氏兄弟《齊唱‧吳秉堅之歌》榮登2011华语音乐传媒大奖秋季「十大唱片」排名,為唯一兩張其中一張香港出品及粵語的專輯得此榮譽,可喜可賀!

Original post can be found here.

唱片死了,音乐并不真正死亡。没有人比这次与钟氏兄弟“齐唱”的上世纪三十年代巨星姚莉更能见证那一个王朝,一个时代的风流云散,盛世变迁。故如今的他们比过往活得更自我,也更真实。



钟氏兄弟《齐唱·吴秉坚之歌》

吴秉坚、翁慧韵、陈芳荣是香港“齐唱新歌”基督福音民歌的先驱。钟一匡、钟一诺兄弟将吴秉坚历年创作的作品精选部分重新演绎,继上一张福音发烧大碟《钟声》联同一众乐手、歌手合作后,这张大碟贯彻“齐唱”的精神,集结一众香港乐坛前辈——泰迪罗宾(Teddy Robin and the Playboys)、刘以达(达明一派)、苏德华、单立文(Blue Jeans)、刘诺生(Citybeat)、吴洁梅、郭多加(赤道乐队)、曾路得,以多元的音乐风格及年轻人易亲近的形式再次拓宽香港福音音乐的版图。其中,与上海滩传奇“银嗓子”姚莉的合唱,以及翻唱赤道乐队代表作《无言者》、《赤道宣言》都是专辑的一大惊喜。(慕容小虫)

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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

舊曲重繹 承傳經典:鍾氏兄弟《齊唱‧吳秉堅之歌》by 細言

Original post can be found here.



假如鍾氏兄弟首張大碟《鐘聲》幕後製作人及樂手班底強得令人吃驚,那麼《齊唱‧吳秉堅之歌》請來眾多星級人馬參與重新演繹十二首吳氏作品及製作一首新曲,只會教人更難以置信。

唱片的首支曲目〈將心給我〉是華麗弦樂伴襯的爵士版本,由原唱者曾路得和陳芳榮與Roger合唱,標誌著兩代人的交流契合,意義重大。

唱片最矚目之作,肯定是邀得一代歌后姚莉再次開腔。姚莉與鍾氏兄弟同是循道衛理香港堂會友,已有四十三年沒有公開演唱及錄音,素來推辭一切邀請。「姚莉是個很虔誠的信徒,常跟人分享上帝對她很好,一生與上帝同行。〈親愛主〉說上帝牽著我們的手走人生每一步,需要一個有豐富人生閱歷的人來唱,姚莉是不二之選。」經鍾氏兄弟誠邀之下,這位接近九十歲的歌者,欣然答應,「她對我們說,她想藉著這歌告訴人,主牽著她走過這一生。」與她合唱的Roger認為此曲的旋律富五十年代金曲的味道,因此以Nat King Cole的Standard(或Traditional Pop)風格重編。姚莉如醇酒的歌聲,洗盡〈玫瑰玫瑰我愛你〉的鉛華,真摰細訴基督的恩情。

除了姚莉與Roger的跨代合唱,吳秉堅也與Roger合寫了新曲〈朋友‧愛〉。在這首富流行元素的作品裡,鍾氏兄弟以Ben的角度撰寫歌詞,回望他昔日的創作歲月,將此曲送給本港基督徒音樂人,激勵同行的戰友,繼續為主奮鬥。

〈一無掛慮〉邀請了曾來港演出的非洲Watoto兒童合唱團獻唱,不只跨代,更是跨國合作。合唱團為歌曲編寫了非洲歌詞,更添加不少非洲樂器演奏片段;非洲兒童天真無邪的聲音,無疑是歌曲內容的絕配。

走Bee Gees式七十年代Disco、Funk路線的〈赤道宣言〉,使用了過百條聲軌灌錄,編曲複雜,音樂肌理細緻。難得的是由原唱者赤道成員聯同本港基督教音樂中堅份子John Laudon(其前樂隊Citybeat當年為這歌編曲)、趙芬妮、蘇如紅、金培達、葉富生及Roger合唱,散發的那份熱情不減當年。

吳秉堅說,他在《齊唱》年代,製作過很搖滾的讚美歌曲,當時被人猛烈批評。相信與時俱進的教會,對今日劉以達以迷幻搖滾、post punk手法重編〈無言者〉,應該不會有太大反對吧。此曲對於聽慣搖滾樂的聽眾,不算新鮮,但post punk的bassline與gothic rock guitar的張力,與詩歌的碰擊,仍然帶來震撼。泰迪羅賓的招牌嗓子,唱出歌詞孤寂疏離的況味,令人動容。

二合一歌曲〈神!你在掌管/一生不枉過〉盪氣迴腸,Roger雄渾的聲線與上乘的演唱功架表露無遺,表現出詩歌那份向神立志的堅定,而鋼琴家羅乃新把兩曲串連的兩分鐘鋼琴獨奏讓氣氛沉澱昇華,值得再三回味。

〈生趣〉與〈神是愛〉這兩首廣為信徒熟悉的歌曲有不同的演繹。前者披上了Bossa Nova糖衣,由爵士歌姬李安琪(Angelita Li)與Roger唱和,教人驚豔;後段加插James Taylor作品secret of life的精粹與旋律,是上佳的加工。後者由Trinity(雷有曜、雷有暉、Barry Chung)演繹了成民歌版本,配合歌曲單純的結構,一切簡單就是美。精彩的兩曲殊途同歸,同樣是歌者對上帝的由衷讚美。

群星閃耀拱照,眾口齊唱讚美的,不是鍾氏兄弟,亦非吳秉堅,而是那至高神。這就是,這趟美妙聆聽旅程的,最終目的。

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我要做「特首」 by Jason Chan

文:Jason Chan〈CBN媒體企劃〉

Original post can be found here.



誰會參選特首是近日城中熱話,是唐是梁,係人係鬼,均成為街坊伯姓飯後茶餘的竸猜遊戲。

眼見氣紛如此熱鬧,令陳某也不得不抽其油水。忽發奇想,生安白造一個「第一屆香港基督教流行樂壇特首選舉」,盼為音樂子民選出偉大詩歌領袖,領大家出埃及、渡紅海,腳踏詩歌流奶與蜜之地。

結果在陳某東張西望,左顧右盼,精挑細選之下,若干大熱黑馬,已前後闖進候選詩歌特首名單之中,為求透明清白,公平公正,且讓在下與大家一齊分析各候選人參選條件與形勢:

1號候選人:吳秉堅先生

賽前預測:前輩為人謙卑低調,跟本志不在此,要不然廿多年前已經可在詩歌樂壇稱王稱霸,還是疊埋心水,創作更多詩歌祝福世人吧!Out!

2號候選人:盧永亨先生

賽前預測:近年雖堪稱詩歌聖手,作品必成大熱感動金曲,可惜身分太過神秘,幾乎無人見過其真身,更有江湖傳聞指世上並非真有奇人,可能是來自天上靈體!嚇得我!Out!

3號候選人:西伯

賽前預測:人稱世伯的西伯弟兄,正如其名是一名不拘小節,慷慨大方的好世伯,一手創立的共享詩歌更濟世為懷,詩歌放題,任聽任唱!可惜,如此時勢,如此大方,必自動成為「手緊三十」終身會員,唯有寄望「詩歌共產黨」掘起,救苦救難!Out!

4號候選人:蘇如紅

賽前預測:Miss So So貴為詩歌女泰山,聲震九天,歌感憶人!每次分享例必振奮人心,一呼百應加入天國軍團!可惜,對於心臟虛弱者未必負荷到這種持續靈命心肺復甦,可能構成生命威脅,所以只好忍痛勸籲如紅姊妹退選。Out!

5號候選人:鍾氏兄弟

賽前預測:鍾氏兄弟近日雖炸爆全城,令福音歌曲在主流文化成功搶灘,可惜其助選團多為未信音樂高手及外藉人士,這本為藉專輯製作過程對他們傳福音的美好心意,對不少傳統教會及其花崗岩高層來說,此舉實有點兒離經叛道,況且哥兒們無論音樂及心志上走得太前太快,未必人人跟得上!可惜!Out!

罷了!罷了!位位大熱均有其隱世苦衷缺憾!時間關係,唯有陳某頂上!

作為第一屆香港基督教流行樂壇特首,陳某承諾會在詩歌版權、發行、推動及培訓上揭盡全力保持現狀、按章工作、多一事不如少一事,令整個詩歌樂壇五百年不變,直至主再來!

多謝大家支持!I love you all!

後記:第一屆詩歌特首上班當日,辦公室內外早已擠滿全球福音歌手,以黑衣,黑臉、黑地毯抗議這位滿口官腔、全無當福音歌手經驗的空降特首!更高呼「維持現狀,死路一條」!令新任特首臉紅耳熱,好不尷尬,唯有笑望鏡頭擠出一句:

「其實,阿劉子千隻福音歌《唸你》都幾好聽呀!」

F R E E H K C C M!

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